How do you create a business that is larger than life? We talked to the founder of House Mugs and IdeaPros’ partner, Brent Novak, about his journey and the amazing holiday decorations that make your house the talk of the neighborhood.
Where Did The Journey Start?
Brent retired from his 20-year long corporate career and started a commercial signage company. Walking around the neighborhood around Halloween, he saw a set of teeth on someone’s house. The decoration got his attention. Although it didn’t fit very well and it looked cheap. He wanted something similar for his house but couldn’t find anything. He decided to make something himself, using the capacities of his signage company. Friends and family were impressed and wanted some for their homes. Soon, people started telling him he should turn it into a business, and House Mugs was born.
Do You Do Everything By Yourself?
Although Brent could make several decorations for friends and family, his company didn’t have enough capacity to create large quantities and ship them all over the country. He wanted to hit the market, so he looked for a production partner. He started researching and reaching out to big printing companies around the country. A friend of his who works at Taylor Corporation, the fourth largest printing company in the US, helped him pitch, and his idea resonated with them.
Creating HouseMugs is similar to making yard signs, and Taylor corporation makes thousands of those in a day. House Mugs could scale up quickly by utilizing their existing production capacity and turning it into a high-value product line. IdeaPros offered their expertise and assistance during the negotiations as there was a lot of logistics involved. When Brent gets an order, he sends it over, and they fulfill it while he does the follow-up with the customers.
What About Marketing?
House Mugs had a soft launch before the 4th of July where they had the chance to work out the logistics. They are now ready for a national advertising campaign. As they are focusing on holidays (Halloween and Christmas), the business has a very seasonal market. Although you can get their original decorations for other important life occasions, too. The hashtag #myhousegotmugged is ready to win the social media with the users’ photos and videos of how House Mugs looks on their homes. You can order one on their website. It will arrive within a few days or even less if you pay for the express shipping.
Make A Bold Statement with HouseMugs
There is nothing like House Mugs out there. With their original design and dramatic look, your house will sweep everyone off their feet, especially the kids. The good news is that they are easy to install, lightweight, and resistant, so you don’t have to worry about the weather during the holidays. We are not talking about flimsy, paper decorations that get ruined fast. We are talking about quality material decorations that don’t fade or stain.
House Mugs are made to last. They look amazing both in the daytime and nighttime. You can find them in small, medium, and large sizes. Ask any questions that you have in the website’s chat. House Mugs thought about storage, too. Something that can cover almost a full front of your house fits in a 3’ x 4’ box, only about 2-3 inches thick. They’re one of a kind and custom fit. You can put them in different windows. You decide where you want them to go.
How Do You Get Here?
Brent is a true entrepreneur who works hard and makes decisions based on data. He is always on top of all the traffic coming to the website, ready to analyze the numbers and change the strategy, if needed. He knows his target audience and makes sure he offers something relevant for them. It is what you do to create a business larger than life.
The “Idea Pros” at IdeaPros have the resources, experience, and tools to help you at this step or any step in the entrepreneurial journey. We partner with entrepreneurs at any stage and who are ready to invest their ideas. Apply for an interview and let’s explore partnering together.